The modern way to work a hat this season

There’s an assumption that certain kinds of events such as Ascot, summer weddings and Royal garden parties, require a certain kind of Occasion Hat, one with plumes, flowers, bells, whistles perched atop either an enormous brim that obliterates most of the horizon, or on a teeny little squashed donut that sits at a “jaunty” angle - one that as the day progresses, could be anywhere from somewhere behind the ear to your shoulder. It’s sufficient to reduce the most effortlessly stylish to a mother-of-the-bride parody.

This summer, encouragingly, there are signs of revolution. Now that we’ve reached an understanding that formal daywear can come in many relaxed guises and that some of the best occasion outfits are versions of our favourite every day wear, albeit in high quality fabrics and beautiful cuts, some milliners are designing hats that feel like an extension of the kind you could feel comfortable wearing on a beach.

Yosuzi, who became a fashion-set favourite when she launched her graphic, pom-pom trimmed, straw hats last year, has added Ascot-friendly flourishes to hers.

Or there’s Jess Collett, whose elegant, precision-sculpted fedoras and trilbies are woven from the finest, lightest straw, as sharply angled as the Shard and exude a playful finesse from £185.

Alternatively, you can take your favourite straw hat to V V Rouleaux for a revamp. Feathers, silk flowers – they have the best quality and choice… Don’t over do it and ensure your hat is the best quality – with straw there really is no other option or it looks sloppy.

La cerise sur le chapeau has excellent straw panamas in seven shades, with contrasting hatbands and tags, 170 euros. Go online and put together your own scheme. Better still, visit the shop in Paris (11, Rue Cassette, 75006 tel: +33 1 45 40 90 53) where there’s more choice. Maison Michel (owned by Chanel) makes smaller, densely woven straw trilbies that maintain their neat structure well. Sweet with any added trim, they’re also ultra-chic unadorned, with just their black or navy hat-band. Think Coco in Provence. And be prepared to part with at least £300- £500. Or visit warehouse.co.uk – this one below is £20.